Complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR deposits accelerate the progression of advanced IgA nephropathy to end-stage renal disease.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is still one of the leading causes of end-stage kidney disease (ESRD), and complement system activation is a key to the pathogenesis of IgAN. The role of complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR in late stage of IgAN remains unknown. Renal specimens of 75 IgAN patients at the stage 4 CKD were stained using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Associations of complement components with baseline clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes were assessed using multivariable Cox regression and Spearman analyses. During a median follow-up of 15.0 months, 27 patients progressed to ESRD and none died. Lower eGFR [hazards ratio (HR), 0.827, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.732-0.935; P = 0.002] and glomerular C3 deposition (HR, 3.179, 95% CI, 1.079-9.363; P = 0.036) were predictive of time to ESRD in stage 4 CKD IgAN. Higher expression of C3a (P = 0.010), C3aR (P = 0.005), C5a (P = 0.015), and C5aR (P < 0.001) was identified in ESRD group than in non-ESRD group. Glomerular C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR deposits were both correlated with a lower baseline eGFR, higher baseline 24 h-urinary protein (24 h-UP) and faster decline of eGFR. Besides, C3a and C5a deposits were found in patients with high S (S1) and T (T1/2) scores, respectively. Complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR in IgAN patients with stage 4 CKD may portend a faster deterioration of kidney function.

Assessment of the safety of Roxadustat for cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease-related anemia using meta-analysis and bioinformatics.

Objective: This study compares the cardiovascular risk in anemic chronic kidney disease patients treated with Roxadustat versus erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs). It also explores the cardiovascular impact of Roxadustat. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to 13 August 2023, using terms such as "ESA," "Roxadustat," "MACE," "stroke," "death," "myocardial infarction," and "heart failure." Two researchers independently selected and extracted data based on predefined criteria. We assessed the risk of bias with the Cochrane tool and analyzed statistical heterogeneity using the Q and I2 tests. We conducted subgroup analyses by geographical region and performed data analysis with Stata 14.0 and RevMan 5.4 software. Data were sourced from the NCBI database by filtering for "Roxadustat" and "human," and differentially expressed genes were identified using R software, setting the significance at p < 0.01 and a 2-fold logFC, followed by GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathway analysis, and protein interaction network analysis. Results: A total of 15 articles encompassing 1,43,065 patients were analyzed, including 1,38,739 patients treated with ESA and 4,326 patients treated with Roxadustat. In the overall population meta-analysis, the incidences of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE), death, and heart failure (HF) were 13%, 8%, and 4% in the Roxadustat group, compared to 17%, 12%, and 6% in the ESA group, respectively, with P-values greater than 0.05. In the subgroup analysis, the incidences were 13%, 11%, and 4% for the Roxadustat group versus 17%, 15%, and 5% for the ESA group, also with p-values greater than 0.05. Bioinformatics analysis identified 59 differentially expressed genes, mainly involved in the inflammatory response. GO enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are primarily related to integrin binding. The main pathways identified were the TNF signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and lipid metabolism related to atherosclerosis. The protein interaction network highlighted IL1B, CXCL8, ICAM1, CCL2, and CCL5 as the top five significantly different genes, all involved in the inflammatory response and downregulated by Roxadustat, suggesting a potential role in reducing inflammation. Conclusion: The meta-analysis suggests that the use of Roxadustat and ESA in treating anemia associated with chronic kidney disease does not significantly alter the likelihood of cardiovascular events in the overall and American populations. However, Roxadustat exhibited a safer profile with respect to MACE, death, and heart failure. The bioinformatics findings suggest that Roxadustat may influence integrin adhesion and affect the TNF and NF-κB signaling pathways, along with lipid and atherosclerosis pathways, potentially reducing inflammation.

Machine learning model for cardiovascular disease prediction in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to develop CVD risk prediction models using machine learning to support clinical decision making and improve patient prognosis. Methods: Electronic medical records from patients with CKD at a single center from 2015 to 2020 were used to develop machine learning models for the prediction of CVD. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select important features predicting the risk of developing CVD. Seven machine learning classification algorithms were used to build models, which were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score, and Shapley Additive explanations was used to interpret the model results. CVD was defined as composite cardiovascular events including coronary heart disease (coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and coronary artery revascularization), cerebrovascular disease (hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke), deaths from all causes (cardiovascular deaths, non-cardiovascular deaths, unknown cause of death), congestive heart failure, and peripheral artery disease (aortic aneurysm, aortic or other peripheral arterial revascularization). A cardiovascular event was a composite outcome of multiple cardiovascular events, as determined by reviewing medical records. Results: This study included 8,894 patients with CKD, with a composite CVD event incidence of 25.9%; a total of 2,304 patients reached this outcome. LASSO regression identified eight important features for predicting the risk of CKD developing into CVD: age, history of hypertension, sex, antiplatelet drugs, high-density lipoprotein, sodium ions, 24-h urinary protein, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. The model developed using Extreme Gradient Boosting in the test set had an area under the curve of 0.89, outperforming the other models, indicating that it had the best CVD predictive performance. Conclusion: This study established a CVD risk prediction model for patients with CKD, based on routine clinical diagnostic and treatment data, with good predictive accuracy. This model is expected to provide a scientific basis for the management and treatment of patients with CKD.

Targeted therapy of kidney disease with nanoparticle drug delivery materials.

With the development of nanomedicine, nanomaterials have been widely used, offering specific drug delivery to target sites, minimal side effects, and significant therapeutic effects. The kidneys have filtration and reabsorption functions, with various potential target cell types and a complex structural environment, making the strategies for kidney function protection and recovery after injury complex. This also lays the foundation for the application of nanomedicine in kidney diseases. Currently, evidence in preclinical and clinical settings supports the feasibility of targeted therapy for kidney diseases using drug delivery based on nanomaterials. The prerequisite for nanomedicine in treating kidney diseases is the use of carriers with good biocompatibility, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, liposomes, micelles, dendrimer polymers, adenoviruses, lysozymes, and elastin-like polypeptides. These carriers have precise renal uptake, longer half-life, and targeted organ distribution, protecting and improving the efficacy of the drugs they carry. Additionally, attention should also be paid to the toxicity and solubility of the carriers. While the carriers mentioned above have been used in preclinical studies for targeted therapy of kidney diseases both in vivo and in vitro, extensive clinical trials are still needed to ensure the short-term and long-term effects of nano drugs in the human body. This review will discuss the advantages and limitations of nanoscale drug carrier materials in treating kidney diseases, provide a more comprehensive catalog of nanocarrier materials, and offer prospects for their drug-loading efficacy and clinical applications.

A bioactive composite hydrogel dressing that promotes healing of both acute and chronic diabetic skin wounds.

Mesenchymal stem cell derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) demonstrate beneficial effects on wound healing via anti-inflammatory and angiogenic properties. Chitosan (CS) exhibits excellent biocompatibility and accelerates cellular migration, adhesion, and proliferation. The ions released from bioactive glass (BG) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles exhibit sustained angiogenic and antibacterial potency. In this study, CMCS-CEBT hydrogel was synthesized from exosomes encapsulated carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs), BG, and TiO2 nanoparticles for a preliminary evaluation of its impacts on the treatment of full-thickness skin defects, diabetic wounds, and burn skin injury due to burns. In vitro analysis indicated that the hydrogel exhibits excellent cell compatibility, stimulates endothelial cell adhesion and proliferation, and presents anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and antibacterial activities. In vivo, the composite hydrogel dressing accelerated a wound healing acceleration effect, stimulated angiogenesis, and increased collagen deposition and the expression of anti-inflammatory factors. This innovative composite hydrogel dressing as a potential clinical therapy, utilizing bioactive materials, holds promise as a potential clinical therapy that aims to facilitate the regeneration of acute and chronically damaged skin tissue.

Azvudine therapy of common COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients.

There is no antiviral study on hemodialysis patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially on the application of 2'-deoxy-2'-ß -fluoro-4'-azidocytidine (Azvudine, FNC) antiviral therapy. We conducted a multicenter observational study involving 1008 hemodialysis patients. After matching for age, sex, and other factors, 182 patients in the basic treatment group and 182 in the FNC group were included. The negative nucleic acid conversion rate of the FNC group was significantly higher than that of the basic treatment group, and viral loads, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein were significantly lower than those of the basic treatment group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in liver function, renal function, or the number of adverse events between the two groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, our study has provided novel evidence suggesting that the FNC scheme may be safe and effective compared to the basic treatment of hemodialysis patients with common COVID-19.

Genome-wide association study of SNP- and gene-based approaches to identify susceptibility candidates for lupus nephritis in the Han Chinese population.

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most common and serious complications of systemic lupus erythaematosus (SLE). Genetic factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of LN and could be used to predict who might develop LN. The purpose of this study was to screen for susceptible candidates of LN across the whole genome in the Han Chinese population. Methods: 592 LN patients and 453 SLE patients without renal damage were genotyped at 492,970 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genome-wide association study (GWAS). Fifty-six SNPs were selected for replication in an independent cohort of 188 LN and 171 SLE without LN patients. Further quantitative real-time (qRT) PCR was carried out in 6 LN patients and 6 healthy controls. Gene-based analysis was conducted using the versatile gene-based test for GWAS. Subsequently, enrichment and pathway analyses were performed in the DAVID database. Results: The GWAS analysis and the following replication research identified 9 SNPs showing suggestive correlation with LN (P<10-4). The most significant SNP was rs12606116 (18p11.32), at P=8.72×10-6. The qRT-PCR results verified the mRNA levels of LINC00470 and ADCYAP1, the closest genes to rs12606116, were significantly lower in LN patients. From the gene-based analysis, 690 genes had suggestive evidence of association (P<0.05), including LINC00470. The enrichment analysis identified the involvement of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) signalings in the development of LN. Lower plasma level of TGF-ß1 (P<0.05) in LN patients and lower expression of transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 in lupus mice kidney (P<0.05) futher indicate the involvement of TGF-ß in LN. Conclusions: Our analyses identified several promising susceptibility candidates involved in LN, and further verification of these candidates was necessary.

Complement factor B inhibitor LNP023 improves lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice.

BACKGROUND: Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and the abnormal activation of the alternative complement pathway is associated with the pathogenesis of LN. As an inhibitor of complement factor B (CFB) in the alternative pathway, LNP023 has been used in the treatment of a variety of renal diseases with abnormal complement system involvement, such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, IgA nephropathy, and membranous nephropathy. The aim of our study was to explore whether LNP023 improved LN in MRL/lpr mice by inhibiting the activation of the alternative complement pathway. METHODS: The mice were divided into a normal control group (Normal group) (n = 6), MRL/lpr model group (n = 6), and LNP023 group (n = 6). The LNP023 group was administered LNP023 for 2 weeks by gavage; the MRL/lpr model group was administered saline for 2 weeks by gavage; and the Normal group was administered saline for 2 weeks by gavage. External signs, renal pathology, renal function, renal immune complex and complement deposition, serum anti-dsDNA, serum ANA concentration, and the expression of core complement factors in the alternative complement pathway were analyzed in the 3 groups of animals. The core targets of LNP023 in the treatment of LN were screened using network pharmacology. The pathogenicity of the core targets in LN was verified by analyzing the mRNA expression of the core targets in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of normal individuals, SLE patients, and LN patients. The mRNA and protein expression of core targets in the Normal group, MRL/lpr group, and LNP023 group were analyzed to verify whether LNP023 exerted it LN therapeutic effect through the regulation of core targets. RESULTS: Compared with the MRL/lpr group, the LNP023 group had reduced lupus-like signs, improved renal function, decreased serum anti-dsDNA and ANA concentrations, and reduced renal IgM, IgG, IgG1, C1q, C3, and C4 deposition. Renal pathology showed that LNP023 attenuated pathological damage in the kidneys of MRL/lpr mice. Compared with the MRL/lpr model group, the treatment group had no crescent formation, less immune deposition, no nuclear fragmentation, and less inflammatory cell infiltration. The expression of complement proteins C3, C3b, CR1, CFB, and C5b-9 in kidney tissues and liver was decreased, and the expression of C5 was increased. Network pharmacology screening indicated that AKT, TNF-α, MDM2, UBC, STST3, ESR1, and TP53 were core targets of LNP023 in the treatment of LN. Compared with that in the Normal group, the mRNA expression of the core target in the SLE and LN groups was different; compared with the MRL/lpr group, the LNP023 treatment group showed different mRNA and protein expression levels of AKT, TNF-α, and STST3. CONCLUSION: LNP023 improves LN in MRL/lpr mice. The mechanism is as follows: LNP023 binds to CFB to inhibit the activation of the alternative complement pathway. LNP023 treatment for LN may also play a role in regulating the protein expression of AKT, TNF-α, and STST3.

Retrospective analysis of leflunomide and low-dose methylprednisolone for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy combined with membranous nephropathy.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) combined with Membranous Nephropathy (MN) was observed in some patients with the increasing of Diabetic patients. However, no treatment guidelines are available for DKD combined with MN. In this study, we for the first time analyzed the safety and efficacy of leflunomide (LEF) combined with low-dose glucocorticoid methylprednisolone (MP) in the treatment of DKD with MN. We retrospectively collected the clinical data of patients with the highest number of DKD combined with MN diagnosed by renal biopsy between December 2016 and December 2020. The inclusion criteria were a history of diabetes for more than 20 months, no glucocorticoid therapy or immunosuppressant therapy for at least 6 months, urine protein level greater than 3.5 g, and a follow-up time of 16 months. In addition to conservative treatment, the patients received LEF monotherapy (LEF, n = 38) or LEF combined with low-dose methylprednisolone (LEF+MP, n = 26). After 16 months of treatment, the complete remission rate was 2.6%, and the remission rate was 15.8% in the LEF group; in the LEF+MP group, the complete remission rate and the remission rate were 23.1% and 34.6%, respectively. At month 16, the urine protein level was lower than the baseline value in both groups (p < 0.05) and was significantly lower in the LEF+MP group than in the LEF group (p < 0.05). Serum albumin levels were higher than the baseline value in both groups (p < 0.05), with no significant between-group difference (p > 0.05). No inter- or intragroup difference in serum creatinine or glycated hemoglobin was observed. During treatment, the relapse rate was lower in the LEF+MP group than in the LEF group (p < 0.05). No irreversible adverse events were observed. In summary, LEF+MP is more effective than LEF monotherapy for DKD combined with MN. Large, long-term, randomized, double-blind, controlled studies are needed to further validate the clinical efficacy of LEF+MP.

Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation of the Molecular Mechanisms of the Chinese Herbal Formula Shenyi in the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy.

Background: The Chinese herbal formula Shenyi (SY) is a prescription that was developed by the Department of Nephrology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. This preparation is mainly used to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) caused by Diabetic nephropathy (DN) and is effective. However, the active ingredients of SY, DN treatment-related molecular targets and the effector mechanisms are still unclear. Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chemical Component Database of Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry were used to screen the active ingredients in SY, the TCMSP database and Swiss Target Prediction database were used to collect the targets of the active ingredients of SY, and the Gene Cards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases were used to screen for DN pathogenesis targets. The intersections of the component targets and disease targets were mapped to obtain the therapeutic targets. The METASCAPE database was used to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of the therapeutic targets. Cytoscape 3.7.2 was used to analyze topological parameters and construct a network of SY for the treatment of DN. Results: Sixty-two active ingredients and 497 active ingredient effector targets in SY, 3260 DN-related targets, and 271 SY treatments for DN targets were identified. Among these targets, 17 were core targets, including AKT1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL6), and TP53. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses show that SY's therapeutic effects for DN occur mainly through pathways such as advanced glycation end product (AGE)-RAGE, PI3K-Akt, and IL-17. Conclusion: Multiple active ingredients in SY exhibit treatment effects on DN by affecting metabolism, inhibiting inflammation, and affecting cell structure growth.

A Novel Gene CDC27 Causes SLE and Is Associated With the Disease Activity.

Background: As genetic genetic factors are important in SLE, so screening causative genes is of great significance for the prediction and early prevention in people who may develop SLE. At present, it is very difficult to screen causative genes through pedigrees. The analytical method described herein can be used to screen causative genes for SLE and other complex diseases through pedigrees. Methods: For the first time, 24 lupus pedigrees were analyzed by combining whole exon sequencing and a variety of biological information tools including common-specific analysis, pVAAST (pedigree variant annotation, analysis and search tool), Exomiser (Combining phenotype and PPI associated analysis), and FARVAT (family based gene burden), and the causative genes of these families with lupus identified. Selected causative genes in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: Cell division cycle 27 (CDC27) was screened out by common-specific analysis and Exomiser causative gene screening. FARVAT analysis on these families detected only CDC27 at the extremely significant level (false discovery rate <0.05) by three family-based burden analyses (BURDEN, CALPHA, and SKATO). QPCR was performed to detect for CDC27 in the PBMCs of the SLE family patients, sporadic lupus patients, and healthy people. Compared with the healthy control group, CDC27 expression was low in lupus patients (familial and sporadic patients) (P<0.05) and correlated with lupus activity indicators: negatively with C-reactive protein (CRP) (P<0.05) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P<0.05) and positively with complement C3 and C4 (P<0.05). The CDC27 expression was upregulated in PBMCs from SLE patients with reduced lupus activity after immunotherapy (P<0.05). Based on Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of CDC27 in diagnosing SLE were 82.30% and 94.40%. Conclusion: The CDC27 gene, as found through WES combined with multiple analytical method may be a causative gene of lupus. CDC27 may serve as a marker for the diagnosis of SLE and is closely related to the lupus activity. We hope that the analytical method in this study will be used to screen causative genes for other diseases through small pedigrees, especially among non-close relatives.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from an adult with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is a hereditary fibrocystic disease that involves the kidneys and biliary tract. Its major histological presentations are the fusiform dilatation of renal collecting ducts and the malformation of the hepatobiliary ductal plate. We isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a 21-year-old adult female patient carrying a homozygous p.L2665P mutation in the PKHD1 gene and used nonintegrated exogenous in vitro differentiation vectors for reprogramming to obtain human induced pluripotent stem cells. The induced pluripotent stem cells thus established had a normal karyotype, expressed markers of pluripotency, and could differentiate into three germ layers in the body.

Establishment of PLAFMCi007-A, an induced pluripotent stem cell line, from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a healthy adult woman.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines for studies investigating many diseases can be established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells; here, an iPSC line was established from CD34+ cells isolated from the peripheral blood of a healthy woman. The cells were electrotransfected with three different recombinant plasmids to generate a normal-karyotype iPSC line that expresses characteristic surface markers and other pluripotent stem cell genes and can differentiate into all three germ layers in vivo. These newly established iPSC lines, a normal human cell line, can serve as a control line in studies investigating the pathogenesis of various diseases and meet the conditions for organoid studies.

Diagnosis and genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with PKD1/TSC2 contiguous gene deletion syndrome.

Deletions involving the TSC2 and PKD1 genes lead to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), which is known as TSC2-PKD1 contiguous gene deletion syndrome (PKDTS). PKDTS leads to severe symptoms and death. There are few reported cases of PKDTS, the phenotypic descriptions are poor, and detailed statistics and descriptions of the time of onset and prognosis of PKDTS are lacking. This is the first study to report on the clinical data of PKDTS patients in China. We analyzed all cases including Chinese individuals and summarized the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics. Our study was the first to use a combination of exome sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to screen and diagnose PKDTS. We found that many PKDTS patients have the following: multiple renal cysts; angiofibromas (≥ 3) or fibrous cephalic plaque; subependymal nodules; seizures; intellectual disability. PKDTS develops into polycystic kidney disease from before birth to 17 years old and the time of occurrence of end-stage renal disease or dialysis was 21.62 ± 12.87 years of age, which was significantly earlier than in ADPKD caused by PKD1 mutation. Compared with non-Chinese individuals of diverse ancestry, Chinese people have significant differences in the clinical characteristics, including ungual fibromas (≥ 2), and shagreen patch. Five novel large deletions were identified in Chinese. We found no relationship between the clinical phenotype and the genotype. We combined exome sequencing with MLPA to develop a diagnostic method for PKDTS.

Establishment of the induced pluripotent stem cell line PLAFMCi006-A from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of polycystic kidney disease patients with PKD2 gene mutation.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) caused by PKD2 mutation is an important type of autosomal dominant PKD. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with PKD2 polycystic kidney disease were reprogrammed to obtain induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). After stable amplification, the pluripotency of the iPSCs was determined by identifying their cell-surface markers, their expression of pluripotency-related genes, and their ability to form teratomas with three germ layers in vivo. The establishment of the iPSC line could provide a basis for a kidney-like organ model of human PKD caused by PKD2 mutation for use in studying the pathogenesis of PKD along with relevant screening and testing intervention drugs.

Novel method for the genomic analysis of PKD1 mutation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease. Although next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology can be used to sequence tens of thousands of DNA molecules simultaneously. It has poor capture efficiency for the six PKD1 pseudogenes and GC-rich regions. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technology can detect consecutive deletions of exons, but it is less sensitive for single-base mutations. However, pathogenic genes might not be detected in some patients, even when using the above methods. Improving the detection rate of pathogenic genes is an important technical problem hindering clinical diagnosis of ADPKD. Four pedigrees of ADPKD patients with mutation sites not identified by NGS were examined by other methods. First, MLPA was performed. Then, pedigrees in which MLPA did not identify pathogenic genes were subjected to multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR) and targeted region sequencing. Finally, the detected mutation sites were verified by Sanger sequencing. The results showed that MLPA detected the following PKD1 exonic deletion mutations in three pedigrees: PKD1-18 nt-290 nt, PKD1-up-257 nt, PKD1-up-444 nt and PKD1-3 nt-141 nt. A new mutation site was identified through targeted region sequencing in one pedigree: PKD1 NM_001009944: c.151T > C at the protein level, described as p. Cys51Arg. In summary, we established a system of genetic detection and analytical methods, from NGS to MLPA to targeted region sequencing and finally to Sanger sequencing. We combined MPCR and targeted region sequencing for the first time in ADPKD diagnosis, which further improved diagnosis accuracy. Moreover, we identified one new missense mutation and four new deletion mutations.

Establishment of PLAFMCi005-A induced pluripotent stem cells derived from PBMC from a patient with renal cysts and diabetes syndrome.

Renal cysts and diabetes syndrome (RCAD) is caused by gene mutations in hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-ß (HNF1B), but the underlying molecular mechanism is still unclear. This study established PLAFMCi005-A human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by reprogramming peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from an RCAD patient. PLAFMCi005-A has differentiation potential and can be used to investigate the pathogenesis of RCAD caused by HNF1B gene mutations, thus promoting the development of related drugs.

Expression characteristics of interferon-stimulated genes and possible regulatory mechanisms in lupus patients using transcriptomics analyses.

BACKGROUND: Type I interferon signature is one of the most important features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which indicates an active immune response to antigen invasion. Characteristics of type I interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in SLE patients have not been well described thus far. METHODS: We analyzed 35,842 cells of PBMC single-cell RNA sequencing data of five SLE patients and three healthy controls. Thereafter, 178 type I ISGs among DEGs of all cell clusters were screened based on the Interferome Database and AUCell package was used for ISGs activity calculation. To determine whether common ISG features exist in PBMCs and kidneys of patients with SLE, we analyzed kidney transcriptomic data from patients with lupus nephritis (LN) from the GEO database. MRL/lpr mice model were used to verify our findings. FINDINGS: We found that monocytes, B cells, dendritic cells, and granulocytes were significantly increased in SLE patients, while subsets of T cells were significantly decreased. Neutrophils and low-density granulocytes (LDGs) exhibited the highest ISG activity. GO and pathway enrichment analyses showed that DEGs focused on leukocyte activation, cell secretion, and pathogen infection. Thirty-one common ISGs were found expressed in both PBMCs and kidneys; these ISGs were also most active in neutrophils and LDGs. Transcription factors including PLSCR1, TCF4, IRF9 and STAT1 were found to be associated to ISGs expression. Consistently, we found granulocyte infiltration in the kidneys of MRL/lpr mice. Granulocyte inhibitor Avacopan reduced granulocyte infiltration and reversed renal conditions in MRL/lpr mice. INTERPRETATION: This study shows for the first time, the use of the AUCell method to describe ISG activity of granulocytes in SLE patients. Moreover, Avacopan may serve as a granulocyte inhibitor for treatment of lupus patients in the future. FUNDING: None.

Genetic analysis of SLC12A3 gene and diagnostic process in patients with Gitelman syndrome.

As the most frequent inherited tubulopathy, Gitelman syndrome (GS), has an incidence that has increased worldwide. The distribution of SLC12A3 gene mutation hotspots deserves exploration. In addition, GS is not a benign syndrome; however, the diagnostic process of GS has not yet been completely detailed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report two cases of GS pedigrees involving two previously unreported mutations, c. 676G>A, p. A226T and c. 421G>A, p. G141R, in the SLC12A3 gene and reviewed relevant literature. We searched the literature for nucleotide of SLC12A3 in PubMed and other databases as of April 20, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 1,794 detected mutated alleles in 939 patients worldwide were included in this study. Splicing mutations and p. Gly741Arg were mutation hotspots in a European population. P. Leu858His and p. Thr60Met were mutation hotspots in an Asian population. P. Leu858His and p. Thr180Lys were considered mutation hotspots in the Japanese population, while p. Thr60Met and p. Asp486Asn were considered mutation hotspots in the Chinese population. CONCLUSION: Our results identified two novel mutation sites (c. 676G>A, p. A226T and c. 421G>A, p. G141R), if their pathogenicity was determined this could contribute to the enrichment of database resources on GS. Our study has compiled the most comprehensive SLC12A3 gene mutation database in the world thus far to reveal that different regions have different mutation hotspots in SLC12A3. Moreover, the establishment of a diagnostic process for GS has important implications for confirmed cases.

Establishment of PLAFMCi004-A induced pluripotent stem cells derived from PBMCs from a healthy individual.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from a healthy male individual. PBMCs were reprogrammed into human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using plasmids carrying the following reprogramming factors: NANOG, LIN28, OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC, and KLF4. This cell line expressed pluripotency markers, exhibited the normal male karyotype (46, XY), and had the potential to differentiate into 3 germ layers, as confirmed by techniques such as flow cytometry. The iPSC obtained from a healthy individual can be used for organoids to reveal developmental mechanism of tissue and organ regeneration, stem cell therapy and drug screening.